Page 331 - Gulf Precis(II)_Neat

Part VIII—Chap. LXXII. 309
3..Mr. Blane, ns stated in Mr. Chief Secretary Norris’ letter of the 4th instant, bavin*-
arrived at tho Presidency on leave of absence, an early opportunity was taken of obtaining
from that gentleman his opinion on cortain points disoussed in tho Honourable Court’s
despatch, nnd I have now tho honour to transmit for tho purpose of being laid beforo His Ex­
cellency the Right Honourable tho Governor-Qouoral of India in Couucil, a copy of a letter
from him containing his sentiments on the proposed arrangement for abolishing the Busbire
Rcsiuoncy.
4. Mr. Blanc has resided at Bushiro for upwards of two years and a half and has con­
ducted tho duties of tho Residency to thi entire satisfaction of this Government; ho has
avoided with singular address nnd management all the evils anticipated by the Honourable
Court from an interference on tho part of tho British political authority at Bushiro in the
quarrels of tho Persian nnd Arab Chiefs. To Mr. Blane’s opinion therefore tho Right Honour­
able tho Governor in Council attaches great weight and entirely considers it due to that officer
to stato, that ho doubts exceedingly wholher any young assistant sent to Busbire to discharge
the same duties would hnvo got rid ol the many perplexing affairs lie had to manoge with
equal doxtority oven with the inducement hold out to him of eventual promotion as the reward
of his exertious. His Lordship in Couucil is moreover of opiniou that business remaining as
at present, inefficiency will be tho result of the change, and referring, not so much to the
quantity ns to the quality of the work to be performed, should bo very sorry to exchange
a Resident for an Asyistant of probably les3 oxperiouce aud judgment.
5. The Right Honourable tho Governor in Council cannot discover ono single advantage
in placing the Arab nnd other piratioal Chiefs under the supervision of tho Envoy in Porsia.
In the first place, the Envoy has no knowledge of thorn and takes no interests in their affairs,
and in the noxt place, it is of vital importance that tlie authority on the spot should be
empowered to act on his own judgment and responsibility in order to admit of tho instaut
application of force 60 justly dwelt upon by the Honourable Court.
0. In considering this subject it is of importance to bear in mind that all the British
interests in Persia are at this moment actually placed under one superintendence, that of tho
Envoy, for the Resident is strictly prohibited from interfering, and in faot never does interfere
in Persian politics, and that for many yenrs pa9t the suppression of piracy has been the chief
proposed object of the establishment in the Gulph. For suoh purpose in the opinion of the
Governor in Council, a Political Officer of experience with an adequate force at his disposal if
requisite, for it is hardly to bo expected that the assistant could possess tho 6ame weight with
even the officers of tho Indian Navy and still less if the duty as recommended by His Excel­
lency the Right Honourable the Governor-Qeueral, shall hereafter be performed by the Royal
Navy. The control over tho Naval forc3 being vested in his superior at Tabriz except in
cases of emergency, and as there is a wide distinction botweon tho protection of British trade
and tho suppression of piracy, these oas .’S of emergency will frequently occur, aud it may so
happen that future embarrassment will be experienced when old Captains in the Royal or
Indian Navy shall bo placed at the disposal of a young assistant. It would iu tho opinion of
the Governor in Council be better at once to retire from tho position we have taken iu tho
Gulph than to run any risk of impairing the efficiency of tho present system.
7. The monthly cost of the establishment in Gulph amounts to R4,690 ; the Honourable
Court anticipates a large saving by the proposed exchange to this point the Resident’s atten­
tion has beeu directed and except a prospective saving of about 100 rupees per mensem in
the salary of the Treasurer. Should the duties of that office be transferred to one of the clerks
on tho Resident’s establishment no reduction can be made.
8. The Finance Committee fixed the salary of the Resident at R2,100 per mensem and
abolished the situation of Assistant. The Governor in Council is not inclined to recommend
either tho one or the other, referring to the qualities required of the individual selected and
to the inexpediency of leaving that remote station with only one European offioer. A medical
officer is absolutely nece66ary, but possibly hereafter the duties of the Surgeon and Assistant
might be combined.
9. I am further desired to state that His Lordship in Council foresees nothing but
embarrassment in this Government takiug upon itself the responsibility of furnishiug the
Assistant with instructions as suggested in the latter part of the 17th paragraph of the Hon­
ourable Court’s despatch quoted in the 1st paragraph of this letter, and has no hesitation in
saying that he would feel great repugnance in giving directions to an officer belonging to
another Government aud not placed under the sole control of this Government.
10. In the event, however, of the Residenjy being abolished the Right Honourable the
Govoinor in Council is of opinion that all the records should be sent to Calcutta aud that this
Government ought to have no more communication with the Assistant at Busbire than it has
now with the Envoy at Tehran.
11. Under the above stated oircumstances the Right Honourable the Governor in Council
trusts that His Excelloncy tho Right Honourable tho Governor-General of India in Council
will oonseut to leave tho question at issue to tho decision of the Honourable the Court of
Directors.
It appears that as a result of this protest, the status jwo was allowed to be
maintained.
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